Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-14
FOUND WATERY GRAVES.
One Of the Most Disastrous Wrecks
That Ever Occurred en- the
Virginia Coast Reported.
The German steamer Elizabeth Lost with
All on Board-Twenty Lives and
Probably More Lost.

WASHINGTON, Jan. S.-The signal corp
station at Cape Henry, Va, reports tina
the German ship Elizabeth of Bremen
went ashore at . u. II. to-day tWsHFy
four miles south OF Cape Henry The
crew were lost also the captain and two
men of the Little Island life-savinl
station and two men OF the Dam Neck
Va, life-saving crew, who were drowned
while attempting to rescue the shjp'S
crew.
THE PARTICULARS.
NORFOLK, Va, Jan S.-One of the most
disastrous shipwrecks which ever oc-
CURED on the Virginia coast happened 81
2 O'Clock this morning near Little Island
| life-saving station fourteen miles south OF
| Cape Henry. Not less than twenty, aud
probably more lives were lost, among
them five Iife-saying men, who in
the discharge of their duty were
drowned. TIE morning was bitterly
cold sad binding snow-storm prevailed
with the wind blowing a gale from the
northeast. During lulI il the
storm the life-savIng patrol from
the Little Island Liie-SaviMg
station sighted large ship stranded on
the bar about 800 yards from the shOre
Wnen he saw the vessel he WAS going to
meet the patrol from Dam Neck station
and exchange checks showing that
both patcolmen had been TO the end of
their beat. The Dam Neck patrol was
only a few yards distant when the
vessel was sighted and both fired
rockets to notify the crew OF
the stranded ships that she hGd been
seen. Tney hurried back 10 their re-
spective stations and gave the alarm. In
Z little while both crews with
life boats ard apparatus were
abreast of the wreck and the bonn
Of the mortar announced thar line nad
been shot ous to the i.l-fsted vessel. The
shot was unsuccessful and sec
ord was fired With like result.
After firing sig unsuccessful shots
the life-savtng men determined
to brave the furious sea and death which
seemed certain 10 a"ai, their adventure.
Tie word Of command being given BIZ
Capt. Bslauz4 Of L;fs-S4ving Sta
ton No. (, known rs the Lutte
Island, six Of the most expert
b0atmen manned each beat. At his com
mand men gave way with will and
and in a moment beth boats were breast
Ing the furious waves. They reached the
ship in safety and i've Of the ship'5 crew
were taken in one liie-boat and
ten in the ships boat, which !
was launched fer the purpose. The |
boats headed for the shore and net
wcrd was spoken, for each man realized |
the awful peril which surrounded |
them. With steady pull, the boats
were making good Roadway for the shore
when a wave OF great power struck both |
boats capsiztDg them instantly, and
pitching their twenty-five occu-
pants into the boiling sea. Then
began desperate struggle for life, and
with many OF the men 1t was o prolonged
one. The Mortified life savers on the
beach were pOWerlesS to assist their
browning comrades or the unfortunate
trangers. The drowning men were car
led southwark by the seas, and some of
hem were washed ashore. As they came
within reach they were picked up and
ndesv0r5 were made 10 revive them,
nd in two instances with sue
esq, although one of the two
S badly injured. The vessel is the Ger
nan ship Elizabeth, Capt. Halberstadt,
rom Hamburg to Baltimore, ana
ot one Of her crew survives her
Treck. Her cargo is unku0w~
$ the high seas thus far have prevented
ny attempt to leach her. II is thought
he is leaking badly, and st sunset her
lasts were thought to be giving way. OF
h. l;fe-saying crew the following were
lst:
ABEL BELANzA, Capt. Of No. I, known :
5 Little Island.
j. W. LAND, same station.
GEORGE ~. STONE, same.
j. A. BELANZA OF Dam Neck station,
nd brother of Abel.
JOSEPH PRATLFY of Dam Neck.
JOHN ETHRRIDGE audi
FRANK LETFoRD of No. 4 station were
'aShed ashore and Tesuscitated, but
tberidge is so badly injured that it is l
fought he cannot survive. !